Piedmont Land Conservancy P.O. Box 4025 Non-Profit Organization Greensboro, NC 27404 U.S. Postage PAID Greensboro, NC 27420 PERMIT NO. 1172 LANDLINES

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Winter Activity in Mayo River Park State Park to be Expanded! ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Nature by Ken Bridle

The Mayo River is one our region’s most treasured natural areas with its scenic beauty and exceptional recrea- tional spots for paddling and fishing. Since PLC’s inception in 1990, this river has been one of our highest priorities for conservation. PLC helped acquire initial properties during the THANK YOU for helping us continue to achieve our mission of protecting our region’s natural lands, creation of the in In the warmer months we see farms and waters for present and future generations, and, connecting people with nature. 2001, but some key parcels of land the growth and activity of the along the Mayo remained out of our natural world all around us. reach due to a complicated series of With cooler temperatures, estates, trusts and other legal proceed- Reasons to be Thankful! short days and generally dry ings. This year, one of our dreams came conditions, some species true and by being patient and working quietly with the landowners, PLC was PLC is especially grateful to 7-year old Maeve seemingly disappear for the able to acquire one of these high priority tracts — a 354-acre property with six Hawfield of Winston Salem, who sent us the season (including people!). miles of river frontage. This property will soon become part of the Mayo River proceeds from her lemonade stand and asked us Or at least it seems that way. State Park to improve river access for canoes, kayaks, fishermen and outdoor Some animals can migrate to enthusiasts. Funding to purchase this land was provided by Duke Energy to to please use her donation wisely. better conditions in the winter, address recreational and ecosystem impacts in the watershed. but most species have ways of Little did Maeve know, these kinds of gifts from adapting in place to the The story behind this tract began in the 1950s and 60s, when local business- the heart are the ones that we cherish the most season’s harsh conditions. men and investors acquired more than 450 acres of land along the Mayo River here at PLC. with a plan to dam it and sell water to the growing city of Greensboro, located Some plants drop their leaves 30 miles to the south. Lucky for PLC and for conservation enthusiasts, this Any gift enables us to protect more fields and or die back to the ground to business venture never succeeded. avoid freezing and drying out, With the addition of these newly protected acres, the Mayo River State Park meadows for kids like Maeve to run and play in, while others keep their leaves has a more manageable property with greater access to its namesake. Rocking- as well as countless other natural resources. but fold or curl them up to minimize exposure. ham County has an economic attraction based on the natural resources of their So yes, Maeve, we will indeed use your gift community. Local citizens now have a nearby recreational site offering hiking, wisely—and we thank you from the bottom of Many animals burrow into the canoeing, fishing and more. Land Conservancy has the pride of ground, soft mud or deep having made all of this possible — with thanks to our wonderful donors! OUR hearts! water, or have other methods The PLC Staff & Board of finding or making shelter. “We’re in the business of forever. Sometimes it takes almost that long to We have very few animals in protect one of the Piedmont’s most special places”.

(continued on page 6) — Kevin Redding, PLC Executive Director email: [email protected] / web: www.piedmontland.org / phone: (336) 691-0088 / fax: (336) 691-0044 Serving Alamance, Caswell, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties

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A Note from PLC’s Director PLC Partnerships —Team Work Makes the Dream Work!

We have such a great staff on our land protection team that they don’t Colonial Pipeline employees repaired and painted a let me meddle in the land deals very Boy Scout Pack 141 from Stokesdale cleaned up pavilion shelter at Price Park in Guilford County. A 2016-2017 often. That’s what made the Mayo the trailhead at PLC’s Knight Brown Nature corporate grant from the company also allowed PLC to Properties, LLC project so much Preserve. purchase new picnic tables for the shelter. Board of Directors fun. I was able to grab a front-row Steve Earp, President seat before anyone had a chance to Mary Joan Pugh, Vice President know better. Marcus L. Moxley, Secretary Edward W. Evans, Treasurer From my spot at the table I was *********************** reminded exactly why I’m so proud Fred L Berry to work for this organization. We dealt with a lot of uncertainty on Mary Ellen Boelhower David Couch this project – survey issues, title problems and a tight deadline to David Duff make it all work. It seemed as though at every turn another Katherine L. Homiller obstacle arose that appeared to be the fatal blow. Yet, PLC kept Michael R. Hough working, continued adapting and simply refused to take no for an N. Jane Iseley Frankie T. Jones, Jr. answer. John A. McLendon, Jr. Scottie Galloway Neill At the end of the day we did it. We bought the property and will Caldwell Academy students (& parents) cleaned up at PLC-protected Lindale Farm. Almost two tons of trash Joe Phagan soon transfer it to the Mayo River State Park. While thousands of was cleared out of the Deep River that runs along this historic dairy farm in the heart of Guilford County. Marjorie “Missy” Moser Rankin future Park visitors will enjoy paddling these beautiful waters, I Approximately 120 middle schoolers connected with nature while learning about river ecosystems. Jeri Rowe hope that as PLC supporters, you’ll do the same and know that it Shane Shuler never would have been possible without the D. Sam Thompson William W. Truslow, MD hardworking, creative organization you make possible.

Board of Advisors

Carolyn Allen David Jones Thanks for a Successful Land Jam! Malcolm Brown Cama Merritt Patty Brown Robert Merritt Charles Brummitt Dennis Quaintance Eric R. Calhoun Bo Rodenbough Lucy Chatham Bill Ross Richard Everhart Kay Stern Greensboro Science Center and PLC Hosted “Milkweed & Monarchs” this fall — an event designed to Pricey Harrison Kathy Treanor connect people with nature while helping establish butterfly habitat in a nearby city park.

Staff Kevin Redding, Executive Director Kalen Kingsbury, Associate Director Ken Bridle, Stewardship Director Greg Keener, Development Director Lynne Dardanell, Membership & Outreach Jeri Donnelly, Office Manager Palmer McIntyre, Conservation Planner Mindy Mock, Land Protection & Outreach Headliner Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder brought down the house for Taylor Owens, Database Specialist PLC’s 8th annual Land Jam concert at Greensboro’s historic Carolina Theatre.

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Give the Gift of Nature This Season! Get Outside with Us at HIKE-A-THON 2017!

This January 1st, PLC will host our first ever Hike-A-Thon. While we New Honor Card for 2016 regularly get folks together to spend time in nature, this is something by PLC Stewardship Director, Ken Bridle — new for us. Here’s the short version: we are looking for dedicated folks to commit to a New Year’s Day hike at a PLC-related property and then Purchase a blank card set, or as an honor card with a ask friends, neighbors, coworkers and family to sponsor their hike and special gift message pre-printed inside. commitment to conservation. It’s not too late to register and jump right in. We also have around 20 hikers already signed up who would love Blank notecard sets—packs of four: $8.00 your support, if you can’t personally get out and hike. Honor gift cards with special message: $10.00 You might wonder … why a Hike-a-Thon? *Gift membership recipients will receive notification It all comes down to this: Piedmont Land Conservancy has the of their gift with a handwritten message on one of opportunity to take on more great land protection projects in 2017. these notecards. To do that we need community support and awareness. The goal of Hike-A-Thon is to let people know what PLC does, provide a new way for people to get involved and, put some funds in the bank so we are prepared for the next project. PLC Development Director Also by Ken Bridle, an original watercolor image of the Pisgah Covered Bridge in With a successful Hike-A-Thon we can increase Greg Keener and family Randolph County—unveiled in 2015 and available again this year (while supplies last). our reach and protect more family farms, more To learn more about Ken Bridle and his approach to art, visit his green spaces, more clean water sources and more places to connect with nature. blog post on PLC’s web site at www.piedmontland.org. Want to learn more, register to hike or support one of our hikers? Visit www.piedmontland.org/hike-a-thon/. Get a free hat if you sign up as a hiker.

BIG THANKS to Colonial Pipeline for sponsoring Hike-A-Thon, and to local Our cardinal cards (a holiday favorite!) are still available! companies like Great Outdoor Provision Company and Mast General Store for helping promote! Order cards with pre-printed message inside - $5.00 Sets of four Blank Cards - $5.00 per set CARS Program Works —Thanks to Our Donors!

PLC Merchandise — Hats, Tees & More George and Judy Lockhart of Summerfield, NC donated a camper — one of the first donations PLC received through the CARS program. Thank you, George & Judy! Holiday pack with book, t-shirt & cards —$20 You can make a difference too! NEW PLC hats—$10 Check out PLC’s partnership with CARS and see if you’ve got an old Kids PLC 25th Anniversary Tees—$5 (on sale!) vehicle that could use a new home, and benefit local land protection at the same time. Visit www.piedmontland.org and click on Support.

Special Note of Thanks to our PLC Donors —

*** To order anything on this page, contact PLC at 336.691.0088 *** We will gratefully acknowledge all 2016 donors in our next newsletter (early 2017). or send an email to [email protected]

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Historic Lands in Bethania — Forever Preserved PLC Protects Faith Rock in Randolph County

Founded in 1759, historic Bethania is ’s first and only Faith Rock, a large bluestone outcrop, rises above remaining planned Moravian the Deep River in Franklinville, forming a unique settlement located northwest of landmark. Named for its role in a legendary Winston Salem in Forsyth County. Revolutionary War event, Faith Rock is where local Bethania is a National Historic Landmark District, the highest resident Andrew Hunter plunged with his horse to historic recognition granted by the safety to escape capture from notorious Tory National Park Service. The land- guerilla leader David Fanning. scape still contains and reflects extensive remnants of a medieval In more recent history, for years, Faith Rock served style farming village where the as a recreational property for Franklinville Mill families would live in a compact workers. After the mill disposed of the property, it area around the local church and was subdivided into lots, which, if left unprotected, walk out along public paths and are highly desirable for development, because of alleyways to farm and maintain road frontage along Faith Rock Road and scenic the orchards and strip fields views of the Deep River. The State of North Faith Rock offers scenic views from the top of the rock assigned to each family. There is and a mile-long hiking . no other landscape like this in the Carolina designated Faith Rock as a Natural Herit- Carolinas. Because the National age Site for its exceptional natural features, including its unusual plants and wildflowers, and the only known Historic Landmark District desig- location in Randolph County for the Hop tree. nation does not provide permanent protection for these historic lands, In order to permanently protect this unique property, PLC acquired Faith Rock and 13 surrounding acres PLC has partnered with the N.C. earlier this year with funds from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and NC Environmental Department of Cultural Resources Enhancement Program. PLC will transfer the property to the Town of Franklinville subject to conservation and the Town of Bethania to restrictions. As a public nature preserve, Faith Rock will be open acquire threatened lands and to everyone with access from the Town’s Riverside Park via the ensure preservation. Together, footbridge across the Deep River. over the last ten years we have protected more than175 acres on Faith Rock will be a spur off the Deep River Trail, a historic rail 17 sites of the 500 acres identified trail which will run adjacent to the , a state- in the National Landmark area. designated paddle trail that is a unit of NC State Parks. Faith Rock Plan a visit today to Bethania’s Visitors Center (located in a restored farmstead house ca.1799) to learn more is one of the “pearls” of this envisioned “necklace” of trail, and don’t miss the five miles of walking throughout these preserved lands. There are often guided walks connecting the towns of Ramseur, Franklinville and Cedar Falls. and special events celebrating the rich heritage of this historic town. The “necklace” will be a six-mile trail, following the abandoned rail line of the Ramseur Branch of the Atlantic and Yadkin Rail- road. The “pearls” will include structures and signage highlighting “Apart from Bethania, there are not many other long term conservation landscapes the area’s textile mill history dating back to the early 1800s, Native American fishing weirs still visible in low water flows, in North Carolina where the cumulative impact of 20 or 25 years of steady land conservation is vitally important. In our region, I can think of only Saddle Mountain, Civil War iron works, Riverside Park, and Faith Rock. lands around , the Uwharries, and lands along the Northern

Peaks – Elk Knob, Three Top Mountain, the Peak and Bluff Mountain. But only one of our long term conservation landscapes features a French and Indian War and a “Faith Rock is a great natural heritage site and a tremendous addition to the expanding Deep River Trail Revolutionary War era village in its center – and that is Bethania.” section in Franklinville. It will be a wonderful anchor and will add yet another trail section for Randolph County citizens and visitors alike to enjoy with their families and friends.” — R. Michael Leonard, Bethania resident and Chairman of The Conservation Fund — Mary Joan Pugh, Deputy Director NC Zoo, and Vice President of the PLC Board of Directors

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Remembering Edie Jackson in Friendship Garden Bethania Lands (continued) ... It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to a beloved Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Friends Volunteer, Edie Jackson. Edie passed away on October 14, 2016 after fighting health issues for the past year. Edie began volunteering at the Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve (EAWP) in 2011 when she became a Forsyth County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (FCEMGV). She became a regular volunteer at EAWP, helping at workdays, serving as a tour guide for Open Garden Day and for other tour groups, and helping with children’s groups who visited the garden. She was always very dedicated to everything she was involved in. In addition to her volunteer work at EAWP, she was one of the FCEMGV’s most active volunteers, averaging over 825 volunteer hours for the Timeline of Protected Lands in Bethania: program each year.

She will be missed not only for her dedication, but for her cheerful Black Walnut Bluffs (1997), a 19.5-acre tract that protects the viewscape at the southern end of smile and contagious enthusiasm. We’ll think of you when we’re Bethania and buffers the town from development along Reynolda Road. in the garden, Edie! Black Walnut Bottoms (1998), a fertile 29-acre bottomland that was a large part of what drew the Moravians to select the area in 1759. These fields were a vital component in the “medieval” town Friends Volunteers, You Are Truly Appreciated! plan for use as row crops. Muddy Creek Floodplain (2002) 17.83 acres adjacent to Black Walnut Bottom. The Plank Piedmont Land Conservancy is very fortunate to have a dedicated group of Friends Volunteers who donate Road which ran from Bethania to Fayetteville ran along the east side of this bottomland. their time and energy each spring and fall to work in the Emily H. Allen Wildflower Preserve, Friendship Old Apple Orchards (Phase 1 – 2002, Phase 2 – 2005, and Phase 3 - 2011), are the only remaining Garden. Without their help, we couldn’t maintain this hidden treasure near Historic Bethabara in Winston- 17 acres of the Moravian orchard lots, located along Bethania-Rural Hall Road. Salem. This six-acre garden is home to a unique collection of over 500 species of native plants. Since this Muddy Creek Bluffs (2003), is another 9.77-acre tract protected that secures the view on the south- volunteer group started in 2006, they have donated 5,037 hours, with over 700 hours donated in 2016! west side of Bethania. Betty Allegrone Marty Cook Edie Jackson Leslie Peck Dorothy Stobbs Cedar Grove School Site (2005), was the site of the original African-American school. Susan Andrews Bonnie Crouch Jane Jackson Michelle Reeder Marcia Szewczyk Bethania Wetlands (2008), is one of the few large, contiguous, natural tracts of land remaining Judy Aydelette Kimberly Ann Cruz Joseph Johnson Beverly Rockett Arlene Edwards in Bethania, which made it one of the highest priority properties in the Bethania Open Land Thompson Protection Priority Plan. Maureen Ballsiepher Regina Cybulski Robert Jolly Brent Rockett Lynda Waldrep Muddy Creek Trail Corridor (2009), provides a route to connect the Muddy Creek Bluffs site Steve Barnes Cindi Davis Carol Kaufman Kyleene Rooks to the recently protected Seidel Road site. Maribeth Weinman Bill Bodsford Sally Ervin Elen Knott Judy Scurry God’s Acre Woods Buffer (Phase 1 – 2009, Phase 2 and 3 – 2010), provides a protective buffer Rosemary Wheeler Connie Bower Sharon Fortner Diane Laslie Myra Shelton around the Moravian cemetery and a site of one of the historic fruit orchards. Ann Williams Becky Brown Carol Gearhart Bingle Lewis Owen Shelton Elias Schaub House Site (2016) – was the site of a two story shop that was both a jeweler’s shop Michelle Williams and gunsmith shop and Union General Stoneman quartered here while his troops passed through Charles Brummitt Lisa Gould Paul Lombardo Peg Simm Bethania in 1865. Beth Wright Emily Bundy Anne Hester Sheilah Lombardo Camille Smith Bethania Church Properties (2016) - these properties provide crucial connections for walking trails throughout Bethania. Bonnie Cochran Betsy Hood David Mock Jane Stewart ***Stay tuned to learn more about PLC’s upcoming work in protecting historic Bethania*** Nita Colvin Bethy Jackle Charlotte Offerdahl Alan Stobbs

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Deep Creek in Yadkin County Protected PLC Connects Local Students with Nature

Thanks to Scott and Cindy McNeely, another

PLC hosted three field trips in October at 35 acres along South Deep Creek in Yadkin Knight Brown Nature Preserve for 8th graders County have been protected by a conservation from Western Rockingham Middle School easement. The McNeelys donated the easement on

and 3rd graders from Huntsville Elementary their property to ensure the site would always be School to learn about watersheds and streams, preserved to protect the productive farmland soils, forest ecosystems and take nature hikes in the wildlife habitat and water quality in the watershed.

woods. South Deep Creek is the southern boundary for the Thanks to our awesome leaders – Shalanda entire property with over 1,700 linear feet of Grier (AmeriCorps member with Piedmont stream frontage. There is an unnamed tributary to Triad Regional Council), Lindsey Lengyel the creek flowing through the property and a small ( Regional Council), Carla pond. South Deep Creek is one of PLC’s focus Ashley (Greensboro Science Center), areas because it is a tributary to the , Cinnamon Black (Black Elephant which provides drinking water to millions of Education and Training), Dennis Testerman (Cabarrus County Soil and Water), Chad Lange (Nature people downstream in the Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed through the Piedmont of North Carolina and eventually Freaks), Jennifer Phelps (Greensboro Parks & Recreation), Cynthia Neilsen (Guilford County School to the Atlantic Ocean. Garden Network), Amy Farrier (Dan River

Basin Association), Carrie Bonds (Great In addition to the water quality protection offered, Scott manages the property for the benefit of wildlife and is Outdoor Provision Company), Henry maintaining various habitats, including forestland, riparian and early successional habitats. Fansler (PLC Volunteer and Foothills Sierra Club) and his grandson Chris, Marie Even though there is no farming on the site at this time, the property contains rich agricultural soils. Booth (PLC legal intern), and Carol Protecting these important soils for future generations is extremely important because it takes thousands of Thompson and David Farrier (PLC years for these fertile soils to develop. volunteers). Funding for PLC’s field trip program at This is PLC’s seventh project in Yadkin County and so far all are in the South Deep Creek focus area, Knight Brown Nature Preserve this year bringing the total acreage protected in this county to over 1,087 acres. Funding for a portion of the transac- was provided by the Rockingham County tional costs associated with this project was made available by the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Community Foundation. We Love Our Landowners! Winter Activity in Nature (continued from page 1) Landowners like Mike and Tucky Vaughan go above and beyond by host- this area that truly hibernate, most are just waiting for a warm day to come out and do their business. Cold ing events, volunteer opportunities and more for PLC members. This past blooded animals disappear from the winter scene, but warm blooded animals like birds and mammals can be year, Mike hosted a summer outing on his Piedmont Prairie for people of very active and easy to observe. all ages to explore the native grasslands and uncover box turtles hiding amongst the fronds. He then invited Many insects overwinter as eggs or pupae that were laid at the end of summer. Other insects can survive as volunteers to plant wildflowers this fall and help restore adults that might be completely frozen during some parts of the winter but then thaw out to be completely his prairie to its more native state. healthy as the weather warms. Recent surveys by members of the Carolina Butterfly Society have found that any time there is a warm day even in the middle of winter, there are butterflies that come out in search for Thank you, Mike and Tucky, for protecting vital lands in food. We even have small plants that flower in the winter that insects use for nectar and pollen. Rockingham County, and for helping PLC connect people with nature! This is a good time of year to watch bird feeders and other food sources, watch for tracks in fresh snow and take advantage of clear air for watching wildlife. What unexpected winter wildlife discoveries await you?

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